Illuminated advertising display



Now-19, 1940. M. S. DUNKELBERGER 2 9 ILLUMINATED ADVERTISING DISPLAY Filed Feb. 2, 1939 2 Sheets-Sheet l INVENTOR MILTON SJWNKELBERGER ATTORNEYS Nov. 19, 1940.. M. s. DUNKELBERGER ILLUMINATED ADVERTISING DISPLAY Filed Feb. 2, 1939 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR MILTON S. DUN/(51.35.9051

P5 WW ATTORN EYS Patented Nov. 19, 1940 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE 7 Claims.

This invention relates to improvements in illuminated advertising displays wherein it is desired to create an illusion of animation without the necessity for causing actual movement of the parts of the display.

The provision of means for creating the illusion of animation, or the illusion of continuous or intermittent movement of parts of the display, is particularly desirable in displays where it is gas or fluid from one to another of diiferent parts of a mechanical device, and the successive operation of various parts of a machine, etc.

The present invention is applicable to displays which will create such illusions of animation, and to other purposes which will be readily apparent to those skilled in the art to which the invention appertains.

An important object of the invention is to create the illusion of animation in an advertising display through the medium of'a movable concealed light source, directed successively, intermittently or continuously to difierent parts of the display.

A further object of the invention is to provide a movable light source concealed in, or behind, the display and which moves in a manner to direct a beam of light successively upon difierent parts of the display and which comprises a minimum of moving parts; is simple and efficient in operation and free from the likelihood of frequent disruption in operation.

A further object of the invention resides in the provision of a display panel capable of exhibiting portions of the display thereon in different colors, or shades of color, successively, intermittently or continuously.

In carrying the invention into practice, I provide a display device which comprises a cabinet or housing, including a movable front display panel of novel construction, and a movable light source mounted within the housing or cabinet, and behind the said display panel, for directing a beam of light through said display panel to illuminate portions of the display appearing on the front thereof successively, intermittently or continuously, as desired.

In a preferred embodiment of my invention, the front display panel comprises a sheet of translucent material, upon which the advertising matter desired to be displayed is lithographed, said translucent material being secured to a backing member of fiber board, or the like, which is provided'with openings therethrough, corresponding with parts of the matter appearing on the transdesired to represent running water, passage of lucent sheet which are desired to be emphasized by the creation of an illusion of animation thereof.

The movable light source preferably comprises a circular disc mounted to rotate behind the 5 backing member, said disc being provided with an opening therethrough and having an electric light source mounted at the rear portion thereof in such a manner that rays of light will be directed through said opening, the opening in the 10 disc being so located as to permit the rays of light from the light source to be directed through the opening provided in the backing member aforesaid. Means are also provided for maintaining a continuous supply of current to the light 15 source during rotation of the disc.

While the preferred embodiment of the invention is described herein, various modifications will readily suggest themselves to those skilled in the art within the scope of the invention asugo defined by the appended claims.

Other objects, advantages and features of novelty will appear as the description of the invention progresses in reference to the drawings in which:

Figure 1 is a front elevation of a display device of my invention, showing particularly the front display panel upon which advertising matter is desired to be displayed in accordance with the objects herein mentioned.

Figure 2 is an enlarged View of the portion of the advertising matter illustrated in Figure 1, showing particularly the parts thereof which are desired to be illuminated successively in difierent colors to create the illusion of animation.

Figure 3 is a rear View of a display device of my invention, showing particularly the movable light source, and means for imparting movement thereto.

Figure 4 is a view showing the modification in 40 which power means are utilized to cause rotation of the light source.

Figure 5 is an end View looking in the direction of the arrows 55 of Figure 3, the end portion of the housing being removed. 45

Figure 6 is an enlarged vertical sectional view illustrating the means for rotatably mounting the illumination-carrying member and the provision of continuous electrical contact between the light source and the source of current.

The letter A generally designates a housing or cabinet, the side portions 1 of which are formed with guide grooves, or recesses, 2 into which is slidably fitted the display panel B. A removable bottom molding 3, attached to the floor por- 55 7 tion of the housing 4 by means of screws 5, maintains the display panel B in position when it is slid upwardly in the guide grooves.

The display panel B comprises a thin sheet 6 of translucent material upon which is lithographed or otherwise suitably impressed the advertising matter generally designated C, desired to be displayed, and a light-controlling member l4 of opaque material.

In the present instance, the advertising matter comprises the representation of a mechanical device 1, including various working parts 8, 9, H] and ||,,interconnected by conduits I2 and |3, and it is desired t represent the passage of liquid or fluid between the various parts 8, 9, l0 and II.

In the advertising matter iIIustrated it is desired to represent the passage of gas vapor, illustrated by red color, from the mechanical part 8,-

through the conduit i2, through the mechanical part-9 to the mechanical part H] in which it is converted into a liquid, represented by blue color, and thereupon passes through the conduit l3 to the mechanical parts H and 8 where the liquid is-again converted into vapor in the latter. The parts of the device, through which the fluid and vapor is represented as passing, are illustrated according to their respective colors in Figure 2.

The translucent sheet 6 is secured to a backing member M which is preferably of fiber board, or

like material, formed with die-cut openings l5, These.

illustrated by dotted lines in Figure 3. openings in the backing member |4 correspond with parts of the display desired to be successively illuminated, by means now to be described, to create the illusion of passing of vapor and fluid between the various mechanical parts, as above mentioned. The member I4 comprises lightcontrolling means for restricting the passage of light through the sheet fi.

A bracket I'B, having a central bearing openin H, is attached to a cross member I8, secured between the side members I at the back of the display housing or' cabinet; said bracket supports the rotatable illuminating means, generally designated D, which comprises a central horizontal shaft I9 journaled in the bearin opening I! of the bracket IS. The rotatable illuminating means consists of a circular disc 23, flanged as at 2|, to provide a circumferential rim portion, said disc being provided with an opening 22. At the back of the disc is secured illuminating means comprising a bracket 23, supporting an electric socket 24, containing an electric bulb 25, positioned so as to direct light rays through the said opening 22. p

The disc 20 is provided with a central opening through which extends the reduced end 26 of the shaft l9, and surrounding said shaft is a hub member 2! secured. to the disc by means of bolts and nuts, as at '28, the'shaft 9 being fixed to said hub by means of a pin 29, passing through the central portion 3|! of said hub and through said shaft. Y

A circular disc 3| of insulating material is secured to the hub 21 by means of screws 68 and 1 surrounds the central portion 39 of said hub.

portion 36 of the bracket I6 is an insulating disc 31 through which extend shouldered hollow binding-posts 38and 39, exteriorly threaded at their inner ends, as at 40, to receive nuts 4| which secure the binding-posts in place on the disc 31.

Seated in the hollow portions of the shouldered binding-posts, against the outer ends of the latter, are coiled springs 42 which abut against carbon contact brushes 43 seated in the hollow portions of said binding-posts at the inner ends thereof. Conductors 44 are secured to the outer ends of the binding-posts 3B and 39 respectively and lead to the source of current through a switch 45.

The rotatable illuminatingmeans D is-assembled relative to the :bracket I6 by inserting the shaft l9 through the bearing opening I! and securing the shaft in position by means of a cotter key 35. When the parts are so assembled, it will be noticed that there is a certain amount of play between the abutting hub portions 30 and 3t, and the contact brushes 43 and 43 will be resiliently pressed against their contact rings 33 and 32 respectively secured to the illuminating means D.

' A U-shaped bracket member 46 is secured to one of the side members andhas journaled in the openings, provided in the bifurcated portions 41 thereof, a shaft 48 upon which is pivotally mounted a second U-shaped bracket 49, through openings, in the bifurcated portions 50 of which, extends a shaft 5| rovided with a crank portion 5| Fixed to the inner end of the shaft 5| is a roller 52, preferably made of rubber, or other resilient material, and engaging at its circumference the rimv portion 2| of the disc 20. A spring 53, one end of which is secured to the cross portion 54 of the bracket 49, and the other end of which is secured to the side portion of the housing A, maintains the roller 52 yieldably in engagement with the rim portion 2| of the disc 20.

In operation, the switch 45 is turned on, illuminating the electric bulb 25 through conductor 44. binding-posts 38 and 39, contact brushes 43 and 43*, contact rings 32 and 33, and conductors 34. The crank 5| is then actuated to rotate the shaft 5| and roller 52 to cause rotation of the disc 20 through the frictional engagement f the roller with the rim portion 2| of said disc. The light rays from the bulb 25 will thus be directed through the opening 22 of the disc Zll'and through openings l5 in the backing member |4 successively to difierent portions of the display material on the translucent sheet 6. Thus successive portions of the display face of the translucent sheet, as seen in' Figure 1, which is exposed to the view of an observer, will be The movement of the light beam along the path defined by the cut-out portion I5 of the backing member l4 creates the desired illusory effect of passage of vapor or fluid through the representation of conduits 2 and I3 and mechanical parts 8, 9, I0 and H. The aforementioned illusory effect may be heightened or emphasized by coloring the back of the translucent sheet 5 along the lines of the path of movement of fluid or vapor, defined by the portions of the display material lined for color in Figure 2. Since the material of the sheet 6 is translucent, but not transparent, the movement of the light source will serve not only to successively illuminate the various portions of the display material, but cause them to be illuminated in a different color or brighter shade of color than is displayed when the light rays are not directed thereto.

Thus, there is provided a display in which is created an illusion of the passage of liquid or vapor from one portion to another thereof, by the direction of a beam of light successively to different points along the supposed path of movement, the beam of light changing color as its movement progresses.

The above-described friction drive means, comprising the crank arm 5P is particularly suitable for purposes of demonstrating the operation of a display of this type to exhibitors. However, when the display is to be used for its normal display purposes of advertising to the general public, it is desirable to provide means for imparting continuous movement to the rotatable illuminating means D. For this purpose, I provide quickly attachable power means illustrated in Figure 4. When it is desired to avail of these means, the crank arm 5W is removed and the short shaft 55 is affixed to the shaft 5|. The carrier bracket 56 of a motor unit E is attached to a suitable vertical supporting member 51. The unit E comprises a motor 58, to the drive shaft of which is secured a pulley 60.

Journaled in a suitable gear casing BI is a shaft 62 to which is fixed a pulley 63, drivingly connected to the pulley 60 by means of a belt 64. Also journaled in the gear casing GI, and operatively connected to the shaft 62, through suitable reduction gearing, not shown, is a shaft 65 which may be quickly connected to the shaft 55 by means of a pin passing through the bifurcated portions of the latter and also through the shaft 65.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent of the United States is:

1. A movable light source for illuminated displays of the class described, comprising in combination, a support, a rotatable member associated therewith and movable relative thereto, electric illuminating means secured to said member, electrical contact means fixed to said member to rotate therewith and associated with said illuminating means, and electrical contact means fixed to said support and connected to a source of current, said last means comprising means resiliently engaging said first contact means during rotation of said member.

2. A movable light source for illuminated displays comprising, in combination, a support, a rotatable member associated with said support, electric illuminating means secured to said member to rotate therewith, electrical contact means carried by said member and associated with said illuminating means, electrical contact means carried by said support and comprising an insulating member secured thereto, a pair of hollow binding posts carried by said insulating member, resilient means seated in the hollow portions of said posts, and contact members positioned therein and pressed outwardly by said resilient means into continuous yieldable contact with the first-mentioned contact means.

3. In an illuminated display device of the class described, in combination, a display member of translucent material having thereon a representation including the definition of a path over the course of which movement is to be simulated, a stationary light controlling member of opaque material disposed behind said first member, said second member having an opening or openings therein registering and corresponding with the representation of a path, movable illuminating means disposed behind said second member, means for restricting light therefrom to only a limited portion of said opening at a given time, and means for moving said illuminating means to cause a single spot of light to move in a course corresponding to the representation of a path as viewed from the outer face of the display member.

4. In an illuminated display device of the class described, in combination, a display member of translucent material having thereon a representation of a mechanical device having parts interconnected by a means of communication, a stationary light controlling member of opaque material disposed behind said first member, said second member having an opening or openings therein registering with and defined by the said representation of a means of communication, movable illuminating means disposed behind said second member, means for restricting light therefrom to only a limited area of said second member at any given time, and means for moving said illuminating means to cause a single spot of light to move in a path corresponding to the representation of a means of communication, as viewed from the outer face of the display member, said first member having different colors applied to portions of its unexposed face corresponding to particular portions of the representation of a means of communication, whereby said portions of the first member will be caused to be successively illuminated in different colors as the said spot of light from said illuminating means is directed tothe respective portions during movement of said illuminating means.

5. A movable light source for illuminated displays, comprising, in combination, a support, a member rotatably mounted thereon, illuminating means fixed to said member to rotate therewith, drive means for rotating said member, and means for normally maintaining frictional engagement of said drive means and said member and comprising a member having pivotal connection intermediate its extremities with said support, said drive means being disposed adjacent one extremity of said second member, and resilient means interconnecting the opposite extremity of said second member with said support.

6. In an illuminated display device of the class described, in combination, a display member of translucent material having thereon a representation including the definition of a path over the course of which movement is to be simulated, a stationary light controlling member of opaque material disposed behind said first member, said second member having an opening or openings therein registering and corresponding with the representation of a path, and movable illuminating means disposed behind said second member for causing a single spot of light to move over the course defined by said representation of a path as viewed from the outer face of said display member.

7. In an illuminated display device of the class described, in combination, a display member of translucent material having thereon a representation including the definition of a path over the course of which movement is to be simulated, a stationary light controlling member of opaque material disposed behind said first member, said second member having an opening or openings therein registering and corresponding with the representation of a path, a rotatable disc disposed behind said second member, illuminating means mounted eccentrically of said disc and disposed on one side thereof away from said second member, said disc having an opening therein adjacent said illuminating means and of a size to permit only a restricted area of said second memher to be illuminated, and means for rotating said disc to-cause a single spot of light to follow a course outlined by the representation of a path as viewed from the outer face of said display member.

MILTON S. DUNKELBERGER. 

